Senate Approves UAS Funding

By Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Mar. 30–Funding that could speed the deployment of unmanned aircraft systems to the Red River Valley has been approved by the Senate, Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., announced Thursday.

The funding, which was included in an emergency appropriations bill, includes money for the Air Force to purchase 30 additional Predator unmanned aircraft, which could be placed at Grand Forks Air Force Base and operated by Fargo’s Happy Hooligans.

The bill also includes $75 million to speed deployment of UAS equipment to Homeland Security’s five Northern Border Air Wings, one of which is located in Grand Forks.

Earlier this week, Dorgan announced the funding had been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee at his second annual UAS Action Summit in Grand Forks.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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